Panowski Play 2024 - NMU Theatre and Dance

Michael Ahlstrom (Lt. Colonel LeRoy/Bolo Soldier A/British Officer Hock) is a senior at Northern Michigan University with a major in BFA Acting. Some of his favorite past performances include: Gabe Goodman (Next to Normal), Chip Tolentino (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Joey Primo/Ensemble (Rock of Ages), Ensemble (The Producers), his work on Spamalot as Sir Lancelot, and Moonface Martin (Anything Goes). He hopes you enjoy the show!

Copeland Diver (Iron Mike) is a transfer Sophomore BFA Acting student from Traverse City, Michigan. He is so excited to be apart of Ghost Soldiers! He has previously appeared in productions at NMU including Clybourne Park as Karl/Steve and Puffs as Cedric/Voldy. He would like to thank his family for their support!

Liam Fisher (British Commander Newt/British Officer Lee/ Bolo Soldier B) is a sophomore BFA in Musical Theatre returning to the FRT stage after appearing in shows such as Anything Goes, Spamalot, Grease, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! He also appeared in the Blackbox drama, Salome, last winter. Liam is from Grand Rapids, Michigan where he was involved with many different theatres around the city including the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and Shadblow Theatre, as well as his High School in Grandville! Liam is excited to share this show with friends and family from across the state! Enjoy the show! IG: @liam.fisher1

Maisie James (Alice) is so excited to be playing Alice in North Coast Theatre Festival's production of Ghost Soldiers! She is a junior at NMU pursuing a BFA in Acting with a minor in English. Some of her recent roles include Frenchy in Grease, Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, being a Swing for Clybourne Park, and Hannah in Puffs. She would like to thank her fellow castmates and director for their consistent love and support.

Megan Lee (Francis) is an alumna of Northern Michigan University and graduated with a BA in Theatre and a minor in Art and Design. She loves her time both onstage and off, and loves to have a hand in multiple aspects of the theater! In the past you may have seen her onstage as Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal, Judy Turner in A Chorus Line, or Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages! She was also the Co-Choreographer of NMU’s Grease, and the Choreographer of NMU’s Spamalot! She would like to thank her loved ones for all of their support and the entire cast and crew for this experience. Special thanks to Keli and Paul for allowing her to be apart of telling this incredible story.

Ambrose Meteyer (Professor/Sheriff) is a freshman in the BFA Theatre Technology and Design program and is beyond excited to be making his professional acting debut in Ghost Soldiers. Recent credits at NMU include Standby for Oliver Rivers, Narrator, and Cedric (Puffs), Asst. Lighting Designer (CO/LAB Dance Co.), Stage Manager (Clybourne Park), and Stage Manager (Spamalot). He hopes you enjoy this meaningful production.

Asa Naigus (Cowboy) is very excited to be a part of this incredible production! Recent credits include Puffs (J. Finch Fletchley), Jersey Boys (Bob Gaudio) with Lake Superior Theater 2023 Season, Rock of Ages (Franz) with North Coast Theatre and Dance Festival, Spamalot (Ensemble, U.S. Galahad), Grease (Sonny), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear). Asa hopes you all enjoy Ghost Soldiers and it becomes a more prominent conversation topic in all of your homes.

Dobbs Nichols (Musky/British Officer B) Ghost Soldiers is Dobbs’s fourth show at NMU. They are a second year BFA acting and English minor. You may have seen them in Anything Goes, Salome, and Clybourne Park. Outside of theater they are a collector of rocks, writer, and an avid reader. Dobbs would like to thank their parents, grandparents, and brother for all of the support they have shown over the years. ‘Thanks for coming! Enjoy the show!’

Wyatt Schmitt (Dalton) is a junior BFA Acting major and a Dance minor at NMU. He has been apart of a few productions at NMU including Above The Timberline, The Producers, Grease, Monty Python’s Spamalot!, and Puffs. Wyatt is thrilled to be apart of this show and he wants to thank you all for coming!

Cayden Smaka (Greenbean) is a freshman and is currently pursuing a BFA Acting Major and minoring in dance and piano. He is absolutely ecstatic to be a part of debuting this production with such a talented cast and crew! His previous NMU credits are Clybourne Park, Holiday Soirée, and Puffs. Cayden can be found skateboarding through town, wandering in the woods, and playing piano. Cayden would love to thank his amazing family and friends for the constant support and he is excited to share this spectacular show with you!

Keli Crawford-Truckey (Writer, Director & Properties Designer) serves as a director, and properties master at NMU. Selected NMU directing credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Wolves, The Full Monty, Proof, Sweeney Todd, Bears, Doubt, Harvey, and Into the Woods. She has worked as a stage manager/staff member on the Broadway and national touring productions of Les Miserables’ and off-Broadway productions including And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little at the Producers Club, and Cloud Nine at the Bank Street Theatre in NYC. Keli holds a degree in Directing and Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Emily Kendall (Production Stage Manager) is a Stage Manager currently based out of Marquette, Michigan. She graduated from NMU in May 2021 with a B.S. in Theatre and Entertainment Arts concentrating in Design and Technology. Since then, her credits have included: Stage Management Intern (Peninsula Players Theatre - Door County Wisconsin), Master Carpenter (NMU Theatre & Dance Department's scene shop), Stage Manager (Superior Arts Youth Theater), and Stage Manager (Forest Roberts Theatre).

Megan Lee (Choreographer) is an alumna of Northern Michigan University and graduated with a BA in Theatre and a minor in Art and Design. She loves her time both onstage and off, and loves to have a hand in multiple aspects of the theater! In the past you may have seen her onstage as Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal, Judy Turner in A Chorus Line, or Sherrie Christian in Rock of Ages! She was also the Co-Choreographer of NMU’s Grease, and the Choreographer of NMU’s Spamalot! She would like to thank her loved ones for all of their support and the entire cast and crew for this experience. Special thanks to Keli and Paul for allowing her to be apart of telling this incredible story.

Em Rossi (Costume Designer) is an NMU alumnus (2004 BS, 2006 MA) and the faculty member for costumes, hair, and makeup. She holds an MFA in Costume Design from Wayne State University and has designed costumes and puppets for educational and regional theatres in St. Louis, North Carolina, and Michigan. Recent designs include costumes and puppets for Above the Timberline, costumes for Grease, costumes, hair and makeup for Rock of Ages, costumes for A Christmas Carol, costume and puppets for CO/LAB Dance Company - Carnival of the Animals, and costumes for Anything Goes.

Brayden Smith (Lighting Designer) is a freshman at NMU going for a degree in Theatre Technology and Design with a concentration in lighting and audio design. Brayden has already worked on a number of shows including Monty Python’s Spamalot (Head Electrician), A Christmas Carol (Sound Designer), Clybourne Park (A1), Anything Goes (Assistant Lighting Designer), and many others. Brayden is ecstatic to be back again with everyone lighting designing this amazing show!

Bill Digneit (Scenic Designer) William “Bill” Digneit (M.F.A. Florida State University 2011) is currently one of the founding Co-Directors of SISU: The Innovation Institute at Northern Michigan University. Bill is also the current Department Head of the Theatre and Dance Department and Producer of the Forest Roberts Theatre. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Technical Production and Management. Bill is the current production manager for the annual Live Design International Conference and Trade Show in Las Vegas and has also managed LDI Mexico. He has been working in production management with LDI for over 12 years. He is passionate about entertainment technology education and creating new learning opportunities to push the industry towards a brighter future. Mr. Digneit also works regionally and nationally to facilitate meaningful change within the entertainment industry’s inclusivity practices. He founded and launched the first fully inclusive theatre audience experience at NMU, and the Theatre For All program is now a cornerstone of the program. Bill is the co-owner of Double Trouble Entertainment, a Michigan based entertainment and production-company focusing on nightclub design and outdoor events. Mr. Digneit is also the co-owner of DIGS Marquette, a restaurant and entertainment venue in Marquette, MI.

Jalina McClain (Sound Designer) is currently based out of Marquette, MI. She graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2013 with dual bachelor’s degrees in Theatre and Entertainment Arts and Media Production and New Technology. Jalina has worked throughout the Upper Peninsula and in the Chicago area as a designer, manager, and technician prior to taking on the role of Executive Director of Superior Arts Youth Theatre in 2017. Jalina’s recent credits include NMU Theatre & Dance's production of Grease (Production Stage Manager), SAYT’s: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Director), Madagascar Jr. (Stage Manager), Seussical (Director), Descendants (Director), Legally Blonde Jr. (Director), Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr. (Director), Peter Pan (Director), Shrek the Musical Jr. (Director). Jalina is now working at NMU as the Department of Theatre and Dance’s Stage Management Supervisor and Wildcat Performing Arts Academy Managing Director.

Braeden Ingersoll (Technical Director), originally from Des Moines, Iowa, received his MFA in Technical Production from Florida State University where he focused on Technical Direction, Production Management, and teaching. Additional professional credits include Technical Director with Des Moines Metro Opera and Theatre Aspen, and Assistant Technical Director with Creede Repertory Theatre. His work in the Entertainment industry has been driven by his fondness for storytelling and accomplishing technical feats onstage. Clybourne Park marked Braeden’s return to scenic design after a short hiatus. Other design credits include The Bald Soprano & These Shining Lives.

Dane Krusick (Assistant Sound Designer & Audio 1) is a third-year student in the BFA Tech and Design program with a focus on sound and media design. He is excited to finally be sound designing a production at Northern and hopes it has been worth the wait. Recent credits include Anything Goes (Sound Designer), A Christmas Carol (Co-Media Designer), Spamalot (Media Integration), Grease (A1/Assistant Sound Designer), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Assistant Sound Designer/A1), and Salome (Associate Sound Designer).

† Indicates membership in Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theatre Honor Society.